Northeast’s first flight training academy opened at Lilabari airport

On Tuesday, the first flight training academy in the Northeast was opened at the Lilabari airport in Assam’s Lakhimpur district.

The Redbird Flight Training Academy was formally opened by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

“Today is a watershed moment for the Northeast.” “After 75 years of independence, the region is getting its first pilot training academy,” Scindia told reporters after the inauguration.

According to the union minister, another such academy will be established in Tezu, Arunachal Pradesh.

Sarma stated in a series of tweets that his government has given 84 acres of land to the academy for the development of a basic airstrip and the construction of an isolation bay.

“Nearly 200 pilots will be trained at the academy, where the Assam government will be able to sponsor aspirants from lower and lower middle class families,” he said.

The chief minister stated that his administration is working to develop the state’s existing airports.

“GoA will hand over land to civil aviation ministry by May 10, 2022 for expansion and modernization of existing airports in the state,” he tweeted.

“Also, as requested by Scindia ji, our government will take appropriate action to reduce VAT on aviation fuel,” he added. (PTI)